Note: The draft Public Health Action Plan presents the manner in which decisions will be made regarding future MMR public health activities. The information shown below is extracted from the draft plan to provide preliminary information to the public, as part of the MMR IRP Strategic Plan, on the general direction of the plan. The information provided below is subject to change.

Background

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), and the Department of the Air Force share in responsibilities for the protection of public health at MMR. ATSDR has primary responsibility for the public health activities at National Priorities List sites, including federal facilities, throughout the country. DPH along with local health department is responsible for the delivery of the full range of public health services to the citizens of Massachusetts, including public services related to exposure risks generated by hazardous waste or physical agents originated from MMR. To assist ATSDR in conducting these activities, cooperative agreements with state health departments, including DPH, have been established. The Air Force, as the lead agent for cleanup activities, provides resources to ATSDR for conducting public health activities related to MMR. ATSDR and DPH have conducted or are conducting a number of public health activities on Cape Cod, particularly on the Upper Cape areas near MMR. Some additional public health activities to address continuing community concerns at MMR may be warranted.

Goals

The Public Health Action Plan is designed to:

• Establish the Community Assistance Panel (CAP) as the principal public health committee at MMR on issues related to public health.
• Determine whether the conclusions of the public health assessment may have been impacted by recent environmental events and if so, determine what mechanisms should be used to further assess the relevant information.
• Determine communication, health education, and health promotion needs that may be warranted and provide public health support to the community to meet those needs.

Funding

The activities to be conducted under this public health action plan will be supported in part through the cooperative agreement between ATSDR and DPH with funding provided by the Air Force. Resources will be provided to DPH to hire two scientific experts to provide technical support to CAP members and to work exclusively on public health activities related to MMR. The Air Force will also provide funding for administrative support for the CAP through the Community Involvement Office at MMR. In addition, an ATSDR assignee will work on the Cape full time for six months to assist in initiating the MMR public health plan. Funding for any follow up public health activities (health education, health studies, etc.) will be addressed as those specific needs are identified.

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